The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday released two men under court supervision after they agreed to pay $90,000 in compensation to a victim of fraud and breach of trust.

Municipal Court spokesman Kuch Kimlong said: “An investigating judge issued a warrant to bring them before the court. Upon being questioned, they agreed to repay the plaintiff $90,000 in return for withdrawing the lawsuit, so the court decided to release them under supervision.”

National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy identified the duo as Chhong Dara Rith and Say Seth.

He said they were arrested for allegedly issuing a fake cheque to cheat the victim, identified as Hem Kuntheam.

The two men were issued a warrant by the Municipal deputy prosecutor Riel Sophin last week, he said.

Articles 378 and 392 of the Criminal Code state that the separate crimes of fraud and breach of trust “shall be punishable by imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine from one million to six million riel”.

Lawyer Sok Sam Oeun argued that the prosecutor should not have forwarded the case to the investigating judge as there was no evidence showing the suspects explicitly intended to defraud the victims.

“The case reached the court and the judges investigated it, [so] it is a serious case, but they were eventually released. I request the prosecutor not to rush and send cases to the investigating judge [immediately],” he said.